AFL world in mourning after death of much-loved Melbourne great Brian Dixon
Dixon will go down as one of the Demons' greatest ever.
The star wingman played 252 games for the club, including five premierships during their golden era in the 1950s and 60s.
He won the club best and fairest in 1960 and was named on the wing in the team of the century.
When he retired at the end of 1968, Dixon was then Melbourne's games record holder and still sits eighth on the all-time list.
Dixon also spent two years as coach of North Melbourne (1971-72), but managed just six wins.
He was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2010.
Dixon also enjoyed a successful stint in politics, including being the architect behind the iconic 'Life. Be in it' campaign in Victoria.
Melbourne president Brad Green paid tribute to the club great.
'Brian was a great of our club and someone who has left a lasting mark, not just on Melbourne, but on the game as a whole,' Green said.
'He was a five-time premiership player, a life member, a Hall of Fame inductee, and was honoured in the Australian Football Hall of Fame, recognition reserved for the very best our game has seen.
'Brian's football achievements speak for themselves, but his love for the club was just as significant.
'He was proud of our history, and helped shape it, both through his on the field success and his connection to the club in the years that followed.
'On behalf of everyone at the Melbourne Football Club, I want to extend our condolences to his wife Carmel, and to Brian's family and friends.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
West Australian
an hour ago
- West Australian
Fremantle legend Michael Walters says he embraced larrikin tag to bring out best in Dockers
There are few Fremantle players who could bring a smile to your face like Michael Walters, and the recently retired legend says it was always a key part of his game. The Dockers great and The West Australian columnist appeared on Channel 7's The Front Bar and fittingly explained why it's always important to have a laugh at the footy. 'I've always been one who likes to have fun and just enjoy myself, and I thought if I could rub that off on a few players, that would make them play better,' Walters said. 'Footy is a strenuous job, so if you can have fun on the weekends, those are the best two hours of your week. I kept that away from Ross (Lyon) though!' As the panel went through his playing career, there were just as many highlights of his goal celebrations as there were goals, even revealing how some criticism from the newspaper inspired one. After kicking a goal against Sydney in 2021, Walters turned and feigned writing in a notepad, which he said was in response to some feedback he had received. 'The first one I copped some articles in The West Australian, but I'm a part of them now, so I enjoy it,' he said. 'There was always some thought behind them, and it is something I worked on from time to time.' Walters famously grew up in Midvale alongside fellow draftees Nic Naitanui and Chris Yarran and he revealed who was the best of the trio at the time. 'When I play, I always go back to those times. We tried to keep Nic Nat away from the footy as much as we could,' he said. 'But Chris Yarran was the best of us at that age by a country mile.' While Walters had plenty of accolades to look back on from captaining the Indigenous All Stars to All-Australian honours, Walters said he would trade it all for a flag. 'Looking back on it now, I'm proud of that but as a footy professional, you want that main goal which is the flag,' he said. 'As you come to the end, you do look back on it only, but it's mainly something for the family members.' However, Walters believes this year could end Fremantle's torment in their wait for a maiden flag and give Nat Fyfe a fairytale send-off after he announced his retirement at the end of the season earlier this week. 'I do think they can win it this year,' he said. '[Fyfe] single-handedly put the club on the map, especially early days. He was a superstar, you see what he does on the footy field, he goes hard at it. 'He's an all-time great and someone who was genuinely there for you as a person.'
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
Why Sonny always brought the smiles at Fremantle
There are few Fremantle players who could bring a smile to your face like Michael Walters, and the recently retired legend says it was always a key part of his game. The Dockers great and The West Australian columnist appeared on Channel 7's The Front Bar and fittingly explained why it's always important to have a laugh at the footy. 'I've always been one who likes to have fun and just enjoy myself, and I thought if I could rub that off on a few players, that would make them play better,' Walters said. 'Footy is a strenuous job, so if you can have fun on the weekends, those are the best two hours of your week. I kept that away from Ross (Lyon) though!' As the panel went through his playing career, there were just as many highlights of his goal celebrations as there were goals, even revealing how some criticism from the newspaper inspired one. After kicking a goal against Sydney in 2021, Walters turned and feigned writing in a notepad, which he said was in response to some feedback he had received. Michael Walters on The Front Bar Credit: supplied / supplied 'The first one I copped some articles in The West Australian, but I'm a part of them now, so I enjoy it,' he said. 'There was always some thought behind them, and it is something I worked on from time to time.' Walters famously grew up in Midvale alongside fellow draftees Nic Naitanui and Chris Yarran and he revealed who was the best of the trio at the time. 'When I play, I always go back to those times. We tried to keep Nic Nat away from the footy as much as we could,' he said. 'But Chris Yarran was the best of us at that age by a country mile.' While Walters had plenty of accolades to look back on from captaining the Indigenous All Stars to All-Australian honours, Walters said he would trade it all for a flag. Michael Walters of the Dockers shares a moment with Nat Fyfe after retiring Credit: Paul Kane / Getty Images 'Looking back on it now, I'm proud of that but as a footy professional, you want that main goal which is the flag,' he said. 'As you come to the end, you do look back on it only, but it's mainly something for the family members.' However, Walters believes this year could end Fremantle's torment in their wait for a maiden flag and give Nat Fyfe a fairytale send-off after he announced his retirement at the end of the season earlier this week. 'I do think they can win it this year,' he said. '[Fyfe] single-handedly put the club on the map, especially early days. He was a superstar, you see what he does on the footy field, he goes hard at it. 'He's an all-time great and someone who was genuinely there for you as a person.'
News.com.au
3 hours ago
- News.com.au
Simon Goodwin speaks out on sole reason for ‘shock' sacking
Premiership coach Simon Goodwin has opened up on his exit from the Melbourne Football Club for the first time since last Tuesday's shock announcement to sack him after nine years at the helm. While the Demons' struggles in season 2025 were well-documented up until his departure, the board's decision to axe the 2021 flag winner took the vast majority of people by surprise. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. Goodwin, who is one of just four people to ever lead the Demons to a V/AFL flag, spoke to Fox Footy's AFL 360 eight days on from his departure at Melbourne. 'It was a shock, there's no doubt about that. I was disappointed that they'd come to that decision — but you accept that position,' Goodwin began. 'Do I 100% think that I was the right person to carry this team forward? Yes, because I've done it before ... but that's the decision the board made, and I accept that decision. 'They need a new voice, they want a new voice, and they're going to get one.' When probed by hosts Gerard Whateley and Garry Lyon as to whether there was any other rationale for his sacking beyond the club's 'need' for a new voice, Goodwin responded: 'I had a standard board meeting the week before, and didn't have an inkling at that point. But as I said, I'm sure the board went through a thorough process.' 'That was the (only) reason I got; that they needed a new voice.' The two-time Adelaide premiership player had a decorated career across his 275-game career, and has now spent well over a decade as a coach in the AFL system — making him a prime target for all clubs looking ahead to 2026. Seven's Mitch Cleary revealed on Wednesday evening that GWS have reached out to Goodwin in regards to a role next year. Speaking on any future plans in the industry, Goodwin noted he right now feels open to anything. 'I've spent some time up in Sydney, and I'm going to catch up with a whole range of different people,' Goodwin continued. 'I'm open-minded to doing any thing in football. I love the game, I love coaching. I want to get away, have a spell ... (but) coaching's never complete, you want to get better. And I know with the experience and everything that's I've gone through, with some PD (personal development), I'll come back even better.' Melbourne's off-field imperfections before Goodwin's departure are well-documented, leaving the 48-year-old with an extra layer of difficulty when trying to maintain the club's success year-on-year. It includes  report last October that some board members and those within the club's corporate circle held concerns over former chief executive Gary Pert and his handling of a player's trade negotiation — as well as separate worries over the management of superstars Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver. Goodwin agreed when questioned as to whether his tenure while coaching without a CEO led to a level os misalignment at the club. 'I think clearly. Clearly, you need alignment for success. You look around the great sporting organisations around the world in business and sport, alignment is critical. It's critical because it builds trust, and you can make some really great decisions that you need to moving forward,' Goodwin said. 'There's certainly been challenges, and things that all football clubs need to work on — and Melbourne's no different. But if you walk through the doors at training at Casey Fields with those players, the environment's healthy, alive and well ... and that's the biggest part of your program to get right. 'For the next coach, I think it's set-up incredibly well. I'd be incredibly excited by the group that they've got available to them.'
